What if you could marry the latest trends in bridal gowns and the steep discounts from a designer sample sale, minus the crowds?
That concept is at the heart of LUXEredux Bridal, a designer consignment boutique that opened recently at 5206 Butler St. in Upper Lawrenceville. Conceived by Lindsay Fork of Columbus, Ohio, the shop curates gowns from dozens of bridal salons nationwide that are looking to clear out inventory to make room for new styles. Dresses are marked down between 25 and 80 percent, based on age and condition and where they came from. The dress shops earn a percentage of the money from gowns that are sold.
LUXEredux Bridal also has locations in Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis.
Ms. Fork came up with the idea after seeing how tedious it was to spread the word of semi-annual sales at her special-order bridal salon, La Jeune Mariee, in downtown Columbus.
“I thought: What would it be like to have a sample sale all the time so I don’t have to worry about promoting so much for just one or two events a year?” The first LUXEredux opened in 2011 and “quickly took off,” she said.
What sets it apart from other sample sale-model bridal salons is its robust e-commerce catalog at www.luxereduxbridal.com. Its “LUXE in a Box” service invites brides to select three gowns to be shipped to their homes. They can buy the one they like and send back the rest or return them all and choose others. Brides can video chat with a LUXEredux representative if they need styling tips or advice on alterations.
“There are a lot of people out there who do get overwhelmed by that retail experience of going [to a bridal boutique] and having an entourage giving them feedback,” Ms. Fork said.
Ms. Fork and managing director Ashley Tengler enjoy debunking myths about designer sample boutiques.
“One of the misnomers is that you’re going to find dresses that have tons of beads missing or tulle that’s ripped, but that’s not the case,” Ms. Fork said. “We’ve gotten to a point where we have to be very picky and choosy about what we take.”
Hayley Paige, Badgley Mischka, Lazaro and Ti Adora are some popular labels at the stores.
Another misconception is that the shop will be an impersonal warehouse stuffed with dresses. The Pittsburgh location is actually a cozy storefront with exposed-brick walls, crystal chandelier, sitting area and gowns neatly lining the space. An appointment guarantees a 90-minute, one-on-one, try-on session.
LUXEredux’s opening in Lawrenceville comes on the heels of Glitter & Grit bridal boutique’s closing earlier this year after nearly five years on Butler Street. Owner Erin Szymanski shuttered the store so it could merge with its sister store, Luna, in Sewickley.
Glitter & Grit’s success in the neighborhood was one of the reasons that Ms. Fork, who lived in Pittsburgh more than a decade ago, decided to set up shop a block away. “I’m a little bit familiar with the city and felt comfortable expanding there.”
Free street parking and being just a few hours away from the Columbus headquarters are other perks.
LUXEredux Bridal welcomes walk-ins but recommends booking an appointment online or calling 412-500-6960 two weeks in advance. Boutique hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.
First Published: July 2, 2018, 12:00 p.m.
